Tag: unpacking

After months of planning, packing and stressing, you have finally completed the relocation process. Congratulations! You are probably truly relieved and more than ready to venture into the post-moving process of making your new house a home. As exciting as it may be, there are a number of post-relocation tasks to tackle in order to turn your home into a safe haven, for refuge from all of life’s challenges and uncertainties, and a comfortable place to spend quality time with the people who matter most to you. Adapting to your new surroundings and turning your new place into your dream home is easy to achieve, as long as you avoid some of the most critical – and common – post-moving mistakes.

If you are planning a residential move, familiarize yourself with the following mistakes to avoid when moving into a new house, so you can come up with an efficient strategy to steer clear of them.

Not Inspecting Belongings

When your belongings show up at the doorstep of your new home, you may be so relieved they arrived safely that you forget to do a post-move check. This includes inspecting delivered boxes, checking them against your inventory list, confirming they are properly sealed and also that they are in good condition. It is also your responsibility to examine larger household items for damage and to double-check all valuables.

If anything is broken or missing, you must report it to your moving company immediately. Waiting can lead to problems between you and your movers, and you may also be unable to file a complaint against your moving company if too much time passes. Not only does this mean your belongings are damaged or that they didn’t arrive, but it also means you will not be compensated.

Not Securing Your Home

Safety is crucial to your family’s well-being, as well as to your personal belongings (house included!). When you move into your new home, it is very important to take adequate measures in order to secure it. Follow this checklist:

Change all door locks and install a security system to keep thieves and trespassers away from your home.

Install fire alarms and smoke detectors in strategic locations, and supply a fire extinguisher on every level for safety in the event of a fire.

Ensure stairs, balconies and other places that present a falling hazard are well secured.

Keep your property in good condition by checking fences, shutters, chimney, roof, gutters, etc., and fix any problems to ensure your home is protected against weather mishaps.

Unpacking Incorrectly

Hopefully, you have managed to avoid at least some of the plethora of common packing mistakes when you prepared for your move. Keep up the good work, and make sure you avoid mistakes when the time comes to unpack. Here are the top unpacking mishaps to avoid:

Rushing. The mountain of boxes that need to be unpacked can lead to unpacking in a rush. But hasty decisions and impulsive actions can result in chaos, wasted time, accidents and injuries. To unpack successfully, don’t rush! Instead, take your time and think through each step.

Procrastinating. Moving is exhausting, which can sometimes make unpacking hard to accomplish. But refusing to unpack and remaining buried under piles of boxes is never a good idea. The sooner you unpack and arrange your home, the easier access you will have to all of your belongings. Your new place will also become an enjoyable home much sooner. Making this final effort to unpack will help bring your moving adventure to a successful close.

Cleaning after Unpacking. The thought of cleaning your new home may seem much less exciting than unpacking, but it’s a very important step to take before the unpacking process occurs. Cleaning is the best way to rid your home of dust, debris and germs, so be sure to have your cleaning supplies conveniently accessible to easily tackle this post-moving step.

Missing Deadlines

If you move to a new state, it is important to do these three things:

Transfer your driver’s license

Register your vehicle

Update auto insurance

Each state varies for how long you have to get these tasks completed – some are as short as 10 days. Before you miss the deadline, visit your local DMV as soon as possible, otherwise you risk being charged fees or facing trouble with the law.

There are also some other important tasks to accomplish post-move, including:

In our previous blog, we discussed the importance of making a moving inventory list. This blog will provide you with the basics of how to create a moving inventory list.

Before you begin packing, you must stop, look and document. These are the key things that you must do in order to create a moving inventory list. Here are some tips.

Room by room. When making your inventory list, document all items in one room before moving on to the next room. This will provide maximum efficiency and better organization. If you prefer to list items sporadically among rooms, be sure to create separate inventory sheets for each room for good organization.

Document major items first. As you begin your inventory list, be sure to document major items first. These items include furniture pieces, household appliances, large electronic devices, etc. Once you have completed this, you can then proceed with your list by documenting smaller or more insignificant belongings. When writing down all of your belongings, be sure to note any items that will require special handling during the moving process. This will help better prepare your movers for moving day.

When making an inventory list, you do not need to document every single possession you own, like individual books, pieces of clothing, office supplies, and other odds and ends. Instead, your inventory list should include all large, valuable and sentimental items. Also note that your inventory list will become one of your most important possessions during your move, so be sure to keep it in a safe place at all times.

Details. Whether you choose to write everything down on paper or use a spreadsheet program via your computer, you will want to set up an inventory template to make it simple to use and limit confusion. Here are some essential columns to use when creating your template.

Column 1. State the name of your item.

Column 2. Give a description of each item. Make each description as specific as possible, providing information, such as: quantity, material, make, model number and any other distinctive features that may be of use to you or your movers.

Column 3. State the current condition of each individual item – and don’t sugar coat it. Inspect each item and be objective, noting the actual condition of every item. Document any pre-existing damage and include all applicable documentation, like warranties, receipts, certificates, appraisal statements, photos, etc.

Column 4. List the estimated value of each item. This is an important column on your inventory list as it will be used to establish the limit of your movers’ liability for loss or damage of an item.

Column 5. Column 5 should state the designated new location for each item on your list. By listing the specific room or location where each item on your list should go in your new home, your movers will be much more efficient; it will considerably speed up the unpacking process.

Column 6. The final column on your inventory template should be designated for any personal notes you may want to include about each of your items. For example, if you have numbered any boxes or containers, be sure to also note the number of these boxes or containers in this section of your inventory.

Visuals. Along with your written moving inventory list, another way to increase its effectiveness is to include visuals. Adding visuals, like pictures and/or videos of your belongings, will provide proof of their condition and will also better capture distinctive features of each item than written descriptions can. Just remember, visual records of your possessions are meant to accompany your written moving inventory list – not replace it.

Copy, save and backup. Once you have created your moving inventory sheet, be sure it doesn’t get lost or damaged during the chaos of your move. So always save, backup and make copies of your list. Also play it safe by keeping copies of your list in different locations, like in a folder, a filing cabinet, and even in the glove compartment of your car. For those who opt for a digital file, be sure to save your list to a jump drive or store in it in the cloud; you can also email it to yourself.

Another good idea come moving day is to compare your inventory list to the one prepared by your movers. This way you can check to ensure everything is correct.

Packing. Scheduling and planning. Buying moving supplies. Packing. Booking movers. Did we mention packing? With so much to do before a move, it’s all too easy to throw your arms up in defeat and exclaim, “I quit!” With all of the not-so-fun tasks to do, you’re probably wondering if there are any fun aspects to a move. Well, you’re in luck! We’ve come up with some special pre-move ideas to look forward to, so check ’em out below.

Give your friends a proper goodbye

Parting ways with good friends can often be a very sad experience, so we suggest eliminating the sad by replacing it with the fun and memorable. Take a few moments and think about each friend you will soon be leaving behind. What is a favorite activity you both like to do together? What “last” activity do you most want to experience with them? When considering these questions, you can come up with all sorts of possibilities you both will enjoy. By spending some quality fun time together before moving day arrives, you will part ways with a bang instead of pondering why your paths are leading in different directions.

Throw a memorable farewell bash

Saying goodbye to your memory-filled home, closest friends and family doesn’t usually sit at the top of the “fun” list – especially if you tend to focus on the negative side of things. But before your movers arrive, can you think of anything more fun than throwing a memorable farewell bash? The best part about organizing a farewell party shortly before your move date is that it doesn’t have to be anything fancy. In fact, no one will expect anything super special from you considering the transitional period you are in. This makes it the perfect time to invite your crew over for a casual get-together (think pizza and drinks), so you have a chance to spend some carefree time with the people you care about most.

Have a photo session

Whether you opt for your digital camera or smartphone, before moving day arrives, take some time to wander around your place snapping photos – and be creative! Along with bringing you amusement and some time to relax, it can also play two important roles in your future.

Photos are practical and can serve as proof of the condition your belongings just before your move. If for any reason you need to present evidence of any damage that occurred to your belongings during your move, pictures will help you file a damage claim with your professional movers.

Photos allow you to remember a certain time in your life that you can never get back. Photos can be used for photo albums, picture frames, and other creative ways to keep your fondest memories close.

Take a memento from your old home

Okay, so it’s never a good idea to take something that you really shouldn’t from your old home, like a microwave or the front door, but finding a small memento to take with you can be a lot of fun. It can also provide you with a great keepsake. What should it be?

A glass jar of soil or a few cool rocks from your private garden or driveway?

Pressed leaves from your favorite tree in the backyard?

A door handle from a room that meant the most to you? (Only if you owned the home, of course!)

Whatever memento you choose, it will keep good memories alive and help lower the chance of post-relocation depression.

Give away/donate some items

As moving day approaches, you will often question why you have so much stuff! As you pack your belongings, it is the perfect time to purge items you no longer need or want. It will also make moving day shorter and smoother. Whether you choose to give some of your belongings to friends or a donation center, both will have rewarding benefits. You will save time and money with less items to pack, and you will also brighten someone’s day by helping those in need.

Design your new home

While you won’t actually be able to design your new home until after your move, you can still fantasize about it in the meantime. Not only is it fun to visualize how you will decorate and furnish your new home, but it can also help make the process of unpacking much easier.